The Oakland Post 1.31.18

OAKLAND THE

POST

Oakland University’s Independent Student Newspaper

Jan. 31, 2018

PARTY LIKE GATSBY Oakland enjoys a gilded night at the annual Meadow Brook Ball PAGES 10 & 11

TUITION TRENDS

SHAPE OF WATER

POSSIBLE NBA PICK

Tuition costs among OU and other universities tied to competition

Review of Guillermo del Toro’s critically acclaimed film

Kendrick Nunn’s record looking good for draft after this season

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Photo by Brendan Triola / The Oakland Post

thisweek

ontheweb Women’s basketball conquered rival University of Detroit Mercy 83-50 PHOTO // Nicole Morsfield

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January 31, 2018 // Volume 43. Issue 18

POLL OF THE WEEK What do you think of Michigan State University and Larry Nassar?

A

All MSU officials need to resign

B

Judge Aquilina is my hero

C

The survivors are my heros

D

TIME’S UP LARRY. BYE.

Vote at www.oaklandpostonline.com

LAST WEEK’S POLL What do you think of the government shutdown?

A) They need to get their poop in a group 18 votes | 29% B) I blame the freaking Democrats

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

19 votes | 31% C) I blame the stupid Republicans

DABBIN’ ON ‘EM // During Oakland University’s Engineering and Computer Science Day, The Grizz dabbed for the group of prospective students. The event took place for engineering hopefuls in the Rec Well.

Photo // Brendan Triola

16 votes | 26% D) WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT SHUT DOWN? 9 votes | 14%

Submit a photo to editor@oaklandpostonline.com to be featured. View all submissions at oaklandpostonline.com

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY January 28, 1966 Oakland University’s faculty senate dodged tough questions about the university’s basketball program at the time

9 SCANDELOUS

MTD’s latest production, “The School for Scandal” keeps modern themes Photo// Oakland University

BY THE NUMBERS KENDRICK NUNN

16

15 FAKE NEWS

Web Editor John Bozick talks President Trump’s Fake News Awards Photo// Elyse Gregory

MANIA

Fall Out Boy returns with a brand new sound in their latest album, “M A N I A” Photo// Billboard

February 2, 1987 Sledding was prohibited by the baseball field and Rec Well on campus, a ban that still stands today February 1, 1988 A fire broke out in Van Wagoner Hall, causing the students to evacuate and escape the flames

26.8

1

4.7

4.0

Nunn’s points per game in his college career

Nunn is leading in the nation for scoring

His rebounds per game while playing for Oakland

Nunn’s assists per game in college ESPN

Looking Back

O THE

The first Meadow Brook Ball

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OAKLAND THE

POST

Address 61 Oakland Center, Rochester, MI 48306 Phone 248.370.2537 or 248.370.4268 Web www.oaklandpostonline.com Email editor@oaklandpostonline.com

editorial board Shelby Tankersley

Editor-in-Chief editor@oaklandpostonline.com 248.370.4268

Cheyanne Kramer

Managing Editor ckkramer@oakland.edu 248.370.2537 The Oakland Post Archives

Cheyanne Kramer Managing Editor

T

he rumor many of us have heard is that the very first Meadow Brook Ball was for the first class of graduates, where Matilda Dodge Wilson graciously gave all in attendance the cost of their class rings back.

This, however, isn’t completely true. On May 12, 1961, The Oakland Observer ran a very brief article about the ball held at the Wilson’s mansion. “…Mr. and Mrs. Alfred G. Wilson opened Meadow Brook Hall to 125 guests for the Scholarship Ball last Saturday night,” the article read.

An article detailing the ‘62 event revealed that the May ’61 event was actually the very first of the university’s fundraising events. The first-ever Meadow Brook Ball was a fundraiser which cost $100 per couple and led to the creation of a scholarship fund. Adjusted for inflation, tickets would have been over $400 each.

That makes the current $20 or $25 ticket cost seem significantly less outrageous.

This ball was held at the Meadow Brook Mansion, and sadly was the only one Alfred Wilson was able to attend. He passed away in ‘62, just prior to the second Meadow Brook Ball.

In ‘61, the Michigan State University Oakland Foundation raised over $40,000 in scholarship funds for incoming freshman who, without these scholarships, could not afford the cost of a college tuition. The chairs of the 1962 dance said there was no overhead cost for the dance, and that all food, decorations and the band which played live music for attendees were all the result of donations.

At the time, about 16 percent of the student body received scholarships. Today, over half of

all OU students receive some kind of financial aid to help them get through college.

Now, you may ask about that first illusive dance, where students were given those class rings.

In ‘63, Matilda Wilson held a “prom” for graduating seniors the night before their graduation. There was an orchestra playing music and dinner served. One student there called it a “fairy tale.”

See, Oakland University officially became Oakland University just before the class of ‘63’s graduation, so students could not order their class rings until about January. This meant they wouldn’t get their rings until the day of graduation. Matilda Wilson called the students to her study, where she presented each soonto-be graduate with a box. Inside was a gold ring, and the deposits they had paid for their class rings.

Back then students were able to roam the mansion more freely as the mansion was not yet seen as a historical site or museum as it currently is. Unlike at this year’s Meadow Brook Ball, students in ‘63 could actually enter Matilda Wilson’s study.

This prom could be the beginning of what we now see as the Meadow Brook Ball. The dance we see currently on campus has nothing to do with scholarship money but all to do with fun and spending time with the university’s founder, Matilda Wilson.

However, what’s funny to point out is that in ‘63, this event was referred to as a “Midnight Breakfast,” another tradition still celebrated here at OU in the Housing department each spring semester where students cram into the Vandenberg Dining Hall to enjoy breakfast food, free t-shirts and other giveaways.

Elyse Gregory

Photo Editor emgregory@oakland.edu 248.370.4266

John Bozick

Web Editor jcbozick@oakland.edu

copy & visual

editors Trevor Tyle Campus Editor ttyle@oakland.edu

AuJenee Hirsch Chief Copy Editor Megan Luttinen Copy Editor Mina Fuqua Copy Editor Alexa Caccamo Copy Editor Erin O’Neill Graphic Designer Prakhya Chilukuri Graphic Assistant

Laurel Kraus Life Editor lmkraus@oakland.edu Skylar Tolfree Sports Editor sytolfree@oakland.edu Simon Albaugh Social Media Editor saalbaugh@oakland.edu

Nicole Morsfield Photographer Samantha Boggs Photographer Brendan Triola Photographer

writers

distribution

Katie LaDuke Staff Reporter Falin Hakeem Staff Reporter Mary Siring Staff Reporter Ariel Themm Staff Reporter Katarina Kovac Staff Reporter Dakota Brecht Staff Reporter Sadie Layher Staff Reporter Jessica Leydet Staff Intern Michael Pearce Staff Intern Jordan Jewell Staff Intern Emily Morris Staff Intern

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The Oakland Post // January 31, 2018

3

Campus Engineering and Computer Science Day returns Both programs try to properly inform prospective students of the opportunities on Oakland’s campus Ariel Themm Staff Reporter

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he annual Engineering and Computer Science Day returned to Oakland University on Saturday, Jan. 27.

From 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., prospective students were given information on the programs OU has to offer in the School of Engineering and Computer Science (SECS).

Over 200 people helped organize the event. 36 individual tour groups, each with two tour guides, gave those on tours an opportunity to meet with faculty, alumni and current students from the SECS at the time of the provided lunch.

Students and faculty were especially crucial for the event in order to properly inform prospective students of the opportunities they can find at OU. This is one of Oakland’s longest running academic day events, as well as the largest,

with at least 25 students in each individual group.

“This event is to bring perspective and bring in new students in order to show what OU has to offer,” Denica Holzworth, the visit coordinator for Undergraduate Admissions, said. “These kids are looking for what is the best fit school in order to grow. This event is a great way to highlight the different features offered, like how they will have to work with the College of Arts and Sciences for majors in bioengineering or engineering chemistry.”

Students were led through the different labs in the Engineering Center by their tour guides. The tours were added so that students would be given a more hands-on experience where they could work and see what tools would be available to them.

Each tour group was scheduled to have at least 15 minutes to stop at various loca-

tions, with eight to nine stops in total. All of the students were supposed to be divided based on interests so they can specifically look into what interests them.

“I’ve been doing outreach since I was an undergrad,” said Chris Kobus, an Associate Professor for the School of Engineering and Computer Science and the Director of Outreach and Recruitment.

“I think that outreach is a really important function for a school. This was being done decades before it was called service learning, and students wanted credit for it.”

Over a decade later, Kobus reflected on his pitch for an outreach program.

“It was agreed unofficially by the dean at the time that I would have two years and a very small budget to conduct summer campus tours,” he said. “We had such good comments and reviews that we were able to continue and

grow. We went from a couple hundred students to about 1,500. We would have a couple hundred in the fall and winter semesters and now we have almost 5,000. We just blossomed from there.”

The academic days are not only to help promote the university, but also to help the

community. The goal of such events is to reach out to students who may feel underrepresented, while also trying to promote more gender diversity, beginning with students as young as third grade and working up to high school.

For more information, visit the SECS website.

Brendan Triola / The Oakland Post

Students and faculty members discussed opportunities for incoming students in the Engineering and Computer Science Day at Oakland.

Dr. Barbara Oakley discusses the power of learning

Samuel Summers / The Oakland Post

OU Professor and author Dr. Barbara Oakley spoke at the Soundings Series presented by the Research Office on Jan. 24.

Katarina Kovac Staff Reporter

T

he popular Soundings Series presented by The Oakland University Research Office on Jan. 24 featured Dr. Barbara Oakley, a best-selling author and co-creator of “Learning How to Learn,” co-teacher of the world’s most popular online course and an OU professor within the Industrial and Systems Engineering Department.

In her presentation, Oakley discussed everything from how to break into popular book publishing, the outreach and impact of social media, the pros and

4

January 31, 2018 // The Oakland Post

cons of utilizing social media and the institutional impact of massive open online courses.

Despite being a current engineering scholar, Oakley described her teenage years as a time when she failed math and science courses. When the occasion arose much later in her life in which she needed to acquire basic technical skills, she set about applying the skills she had once used in learning Russian to the study of mathematics.

Oakley couldn’t afford to attend college, so the only way she could pursue her desired field in the study of languages was to join the Army.

“The Army decided to commission me in the Signal Corps, which was a heavily technological area that demanded a proper math and science background,” Oakley said. “I quickly realized that the engineers I’d worked with in the military had great problem-solving skills, as well as knowledge of a subject area of engineering that had recruiters pounding at their door.”

Although she thought she wasn’t technologically or analytically gifted, she ended up excelling. This led her to becoming the distinguished professor of engineering she is today.

Oakley co-teaches a course called “Learning How to Learn,” which is the world’s largest massive open online course with over 2,000,000 students attending. In addition to her engineering successes, Oakley is also a New York Times best-selling author who has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and many prominent media outlets.

“While I was working as an assistant professor of engineering, I ran into a nasty person,” Oakley said.

“This was the type of person that was really nice when you were around, but did horrible things behind your back. I kept wondering, why do people do these kinds of things?”

As an engineer, she proceeded to try and research the topic, and came across the term, ‘malignant narcissism.’ She found that there were thousands of research publications on the topic, but zero scientific publications. This inspired her to take it upon herself to write a book about it, which she proceeded to publish with the Washington State University Press.

Oakley then wrote numerous novels, many of which were featured on The New York Times bestselling list.

Leanne DeVreugd, research office initiatives coordinator at OU, believes the mission of the Soundings Series is to help faculty learn how to become publicly engaged academics and intellectuals.

“The scholars featured in the Soundings Series bring positive attention to their own work and to the university through their active engagement with local organizations, national and global communities and online audiences,” DeVreugd said.

Events such as the Soundings Series that highlight world-renowned faculty members like Oakley allow students and faculty to understand the importance of research, and expose them to ideas that will expand their minds intellectually. www.oaklandpostonline.com

Campus

Opportunities for academic success New partnership with Kaplan helps with standardized testing approach campus community Trevor Tyle Campus Editor

T

he Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) department at Oakland University has partnered with Kaplan to bring new standardized test prep courses to the campus community.

“We thought, ‘Hey, we can provide this service to our community—‘cause it’s open to everybody—and our students for a fraction of the price if we form a partnership,’” Amy Olind, assistant director of PACE, said.

“There’s still such a heavy, heavy emphasis on [standardized tests] in the academic world.

“These tests are inherently stressful. So, if you take a prep course, that’s one of the

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biggest goals that we have— when you come out, some of that stress when you show up on test day is alleviated.

Taking multiple, proctored, practice tests helps students improve crucial time-management skills.”

A variety of courses are currently available thanks to the partnership, including preparation for the ACT, SAT, GMAT, GRE, LSAT and MCAT, among others. They are being offered year-round at a discounted rate. Students will be able to take courses for between 20 and 40 percent off their retail price. Payment plans will be offered for some of the more expensive courses, such as the LSAT and MCAT. Additionally, PACE will be offering free informational strategy sessions for every

“We thought, ‘Hey, we can provide this service to our community—‘cause it’s open to everybody—and our students for a fraction of the price if we partner with one of these companies,’.”

Amy Olind Assistand director of PACE test. Olind said these will not be as in-depth, “but they can give you an overview of the test and some information about what kind of resources we do offer in our courses.”

The sessions will be held during the day, making them

more convenient for students to attend.

In addition to offering courses to high school students, PACE also hopes to attract prospective students by partnering with select school districts. Potential Master of Business Administration (MBA) students will also be offered an incentive for participating in the program.

“There is a $500 scholarship available to any student that enrolls in our GMAT course,” Olind said. “If they complete the course and then are accepted to the MBA program and complete a semester, they get $500.”

Aside from the potential incentives for incoming students, though, Olind says that, more importantly, the Kaplan method will offer more opportunities for suc-

cess to students who struggle with standardized tests.

“They do review a little bit of the content, but they’re expecting that you have a good foundation beforehand,” she said. “What these courses do is give you insight into the tests—what are the most frequent questions you’re going to see, what are some of the different strategies that you can use to attack these different questions. Kaplan combines high-quality instruction with a variety of top-notch resources that students can use to be successful.”

For more information, visit the PACE website or email Olind at acolind@oakland. edu. PACE will also have an informational booth with Kaplan in the Oakland Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31.

The Oakland Post // January 31, 2018

5

Campus EDITORIAL

The rise of tuition

Relationship between arbitrary college competition and student retention rates Simon Albaugh Social Media Editor

S Sam Boggs / The Oakland Post

Local community members spoke about how immigration hits close to home in Pontiac.

ICE: A local issue Pontiac community gathers to discuss immigration and the city Sadie Layher Staff Reporter

C

ommunity leaders came together to discuss how the ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) policy is affecting local immigration population on the evening of Thursday, Jan. 25. The speakers included Angela Powell-Medlock and Sonia Neske from Pontiac High School, immigration lawyer Garrett Garcia and nurse practitioner Lisa Smith.

These speakers often see immigrants and clients at their most vulnerable in their jobs. Smith mentioned when she is taking care of family members in the hospital setting, a number of them do not come in because they don’t have access to insurance. This lack of insurance makes them a last priority to get care.

Garcia, as an immigration lawyer, has about 90 percent of his clients as Spanish speakers. When it comes to deportation, the Obama Administration had a system called Priority 1-3 as different layers determining who should get deported and who shouldn’t.

ICE agents have the ability to enter private property without a warrant especially if it is 25 miles of the border.

Part of the northern border is the outline of Michigan.

“It is important to be aware Michigan is part of the border zone,” Garcia stated.

According to Garcia, Rochester is the local area that tends to jail illegal immigrants more.

6 The Oakland Post

// January 31, 2018

Powell-Medlock is a social worker and therapist at Pontiac High School.

Those that come from a Latino family often have the challenge that mental health issues are taboo. Medlock states it is very hard to get the kids to open up mostly out of fear.

“All I can do is not be blind to [this issue],” Powell-Medlock said.

Sometimes her students need extra help in learning the English language, which is where Neske comes in. She is the English language specialist, and she is originally from Columbia. Neske has around 240 students under her supervision and teaching. She sees the language deficiency as well as the economical hardships for students who have to learn the language as teenagers.

The economic hardships it leads back to an unstable home, no insurance, no car, no job and facing the fact that they have an illegal status in the place they are trying to build a life.

“Why graduate high school if they can’t go to college and can’t get a driver’s license?” Neske said.

It was mentioned during the panel that around 60 percent of women who cross the border are sexually assaulted.

Sometimes ICE also decides to hideout to take family members away. There was a story mentioned that an ICE employee was waiting at the school bus to deport a child’s father. DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) used to protect younger students and gave them a social security card and the ability to obtain a driver’s license or register a vehicle.

The recurring question for these immigrants is, do we split up the family or go back to the old country we don’t know to keep the family together?

ince 2002, Oakland University’s tuition has more than doubled, when accounting for rising levels of inflation. But this doesn’t seem to be contained by the rate of falling state appropriation funds, as tuition doesn’t inversely correlate with the differences since 2002.

According to national trends, it has more to do with arbitrary competition among universities.

U.S. News & World Report, the same media group that publishes the U.S. Best Colleges list, reports the major influence behind the rise in tuition prices has most to deal with the rise in administration salaries.

It’s reported that when former OU President Garry Russi started in 1995 as interim president, his salary was $217,864 when adjusted for inflation. This figure slowly rose, with an increase of $100,000 a year, until his salary reached $358,000.

As part of former OU President George Hynd’s contract, his salary reached $400,000, which is where the current salary of President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz lies.

Another issue reported by U.S. News & World Report is the increase in the cost of student services such as academic counseling, psychological counseling, and veteran affairs offices, which all deal with student retention.

But as important as student services are, there is an immediate motivation to use it as a tool for student retention.

Because the U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges” uses student retention in its Best Colleges list criteria, institutions have an incentive to be more selective, while they have the same incentive to make classes easier to keep students en-

rolled at the university.

Navigating the list has been most easily run by the college presidents who treat college as a business. Often labeled the ‘corporatization of universities,’ college presidents are trying to increase the college’s ranking while attempting to cut costs in areas that do not affect application rates.

This has been seen most heavily at Mount St. Mary’s University where one college president developed a program to identify students most likely to fail and coerce them to drop out before the end of the semester since the timing won’t affect student retention rates.

This is useful in understanding the situation at Oakland because of the consistent focus on similar university improvement initiatives. Hynd talked about how important retention rate was before leaving almost a year ago.

So most university’s focus falls on brand development and competitiveness, which help determine the amount that the state will provide in appropriation funds to that college.

The effect this has is a higher rate of disregard for lower income students, who have a more difficult time affording services that help them get into college, as well as a lower focus on the quality of classroom instruction.

In most cases, the prestige of a university can be good enough to almost guarantee a job, solidifying an alumni donation base. But as for Oakland, the major issue with this theory is holes that need to be filled in Oakland Budget and Performance Transparency Reporting.

The missing information would be able to determine whether salary increases, as well as student support service expenditures, correlate with tuition hikes.

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Campus

Go Red Week previews heart health initiatives Laurel Kraus Life Editor

H

eart disease is the leading cause of death in American women with over 250 thousand deaths attributed to it in 2013 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While Oakland University has participated with National Go Red Week in the past, this year, the events will be incorporated into a much larger campus-wide heart health initiative.

“We really want students to be informed early on of signs and symptoms of heart disease because what we’re finding is everyone typically knows someone who’s been affected by it,” said Stephanie Willis, a coordinator for Wellness & Educational Outreach at OU. The initiative began when the President of Wayne State University invited Oakland’s President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz to join in effort.

“Students don’t often think about heart disease because it typically affects older people, but it’s the habits and the behaviors that they start now that can contribute,” said Erica Wallace, Health & Wellness coordinator.

Go Red Week kicked off on Monday, Jan. 29 with a stress less event and continued on Tuesday, Jan. 30 with parking lot raids where volunteers passed out Kind Bars in multiple lots throughout the day.

Today features a walk-a-thon on the Rec Well track

from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., which will be followed tomorrow, Feb. 1, by a nutrition workshop as well as Chartwells cooking demonstration. The week will close on Friday, Feb. 2, National Wear Red Day, with the second annual Go Red Dance Jam from noon to 1 p.m. in the Rec Center.

This start to the semester-long initiative is a collaboration between University Recreation and Well-Being, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, the School of Nursing and Graham Health Center.

Looking toward the future, February will feature tabling events in the Oakland Center titled “Don’t Go Breakin’ My Heart,” where students can get information on the risk factors and prevention techniques of heart disease. According to Wallace, healthy eating, regular exercise, limiting alcohol and not smoking can all aid in preventing heart disease.

March will focus on nutrition through further cooking demonstrations, but will also offer the Hands Only CPR Event through a partnership with Beaumont. Participants will not receive a CPR certification but will learn the proper technique.

April is then set to bring back walks with campus leaders. Organized in the past as well, students and campus leaders are brought together through relaxed walks that get the blood flowing and allow for friendly interaction.

This year, the individual walks will be led by Pescovitz, student affairs directors, the OU Police Department and

Nicole Morsfield / The Oakland Post

Students learned different ways to reduce stress at the event.

all of the college deans.

“We’re going to do sort of like a dean’s challenge where we can see how many people from each of the different schools or colleges they can bring with them,” Willis said.

The finale of this initiative will be the American Heart Association Heart Walk at Wayne State University in May. Wallace reported that possible future initiatives through Health & Wellness could include a sleep campaign that deals with students getting adequate sleep.

Examining the ‘Science of Hope’ Classifieds Ariel Themm Staff Reporter

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esearch has found toxic stress typically developed through constant stressors from childhood, can lead to an early death.

“Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope” further explores this research. The documentary was screened on Sunday, Jan. 28 at The Crofoot in Pontiac and on Monday, Jan. 29 in Pawley Hall at Oakland University.

The screening at The Crofoot was coordinated through the OU Pontiac Early Childhood Committee to raise awareness of the effects of poverty and harmful situations on a child’s brain. Shauna Boomgaard, the manager of academic accountability at OU and a licensed social worker, led a discussion after the screening to continue the discussion of how to handle behaviors of children coming from adverse situations.

“They take the film to another level where we see different stories and what we can do for them,” Boomgaard said. “We know that the brain changes due to these stressors. And not all children have appropriate coping methods, by either smoking and drinking.”

“Resilience” was funded through the Michigan Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) Grant, “Creating Healing Communities: A Statewide Initiative to Address

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Adverse Childhood Experiences in Michigan.” The three types of ACEs are abuse, neglect and household dysfunction.

About 64 percent of 17,000 study participants have experienced at least one ACE. “The purpose is to raise awareness on childhood adversity, that those situations have effects on people that can lead to behavior, physical and mental risks,” said Tomoko Wakabayashi, associate professor of education.

The number of negative experiences people faced in their childhood is in correlation with how severe risk outcomes are.

Risk outcomes can vary from severe obesity, to suicide attempts and even cancer.

“Take finals for example,” Boomgaard said. “You can get run down, you’re probably not eating enough or sleeping enough.

You can have physical symptoms like a stomachache or a headache. On top of all those short-term stressors, there’s those who have to deal with possible ACEs from poorer situations, that’s what can lead to worse health issues.”

“Resilience” focuses on how understanding what the child is going through can be important to help with an encouraging relationship. The more understanding relationships a child has, the more likely they will survive their ordeals.

“I really like the ‘The Science of Hope’ behind [the film’s title],” Wakabayashi said. “You’re not doomed just because you experienced bad situations as a child.”

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The Oakland Post // January 31, 2018

7

Life The coalition of Housing and Disability Services: making dorms more comfy Sadie Layher Staff Reporter

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here is a behind-the-scenes duo working together to better Oakland University’s ever growing population.

University Housing and Disability Support Services collaborate and make new students, some of which have disabilities, feel welcome. The Housing office in particular works on placing students who wish to live on campus in the correct residence hall based on his or her needs.

Oak View Hall, Hamlin Hall and Vandenburg Hall all have some rooms that are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant. These rooms are typically for the physically impaired, meaning the room either has a transfer shower or a rolling shower for students who use a wheelchair.

However, that is not the only disability support present on campus. A few students on campus also have Emotional Support Animals or ESAs but these can cause some conflicts. Other students living on a floor with an ESA might be allergic to dogs or cats.

“Being flexible with different disabilities allows us to open up an opportunity for all students to come to the university,” said James Zentmeyer, director of Housing.

In order to receive assistance, the Disability Support Services office has to validate the disability in question. The process is called an intake. As an example, a student can present documentation from high school such as an IEP, also known as Individualized Education Program, or a diagnosis from a doctor.

Once the paperwork is complete, the Housing office can present options for each student. It is important to note that not eve-

ry room in the dorms are ADA compliant but there is a particular number Housing is required to have.

“We want to ensure students with a disability have access to all of our local university curriculum and amenities,” said Sarah Guadalupe, Disability Support Services director.

Hillcrest Hall is the newest residence hall on campus and will be open in fall 2018. According to Zentmeyer, the ADA compliant rooms were conceived by the architect who designed the dorm. Therefore, from the beginning they have been included in the blueprints.

Typically this comes into play when students have a physical disability. The turning radius in the living space in the dorms must be up to code so a wheelchair would have free access to movement.

The inside of the dorm is not the only design that has to be up to code. More disabled parking must become available along with sidewalk stripes and truncated domes which are the little red bumps on the ramps connected to sidewalks.

“Every case is individual and can’t be lumped together,” Zentmeyer said.

According to Guadalupe, there is a trio of disabilities which is made up of medical, mental and learning disabilities. The DSS works collaboratively with Housing so even if a student requires a specific air environment, Housing can make sure they are in Oak View Hall for air conditioning.

“There is always more to do...and building code is always changing,” Zentmeyer said.

OU is student oriented and it is important to keep up with the times with Oakland’s ever changing dynamics and personas living on campus.

Highlight: The Boxing Club Jordan Jewell Staff Intern

U

nless you’re one of the few people that truly enjoy running, getting your cardio in can be a real pain. You get sweaty, your playlist isn’t right, your shins start throbbing, you quit after half a mile. The Oakland University Boxing Club is here to change all of that.

Club President Zachary Zinser got the idea from a close friend that frequently visits the University of Michigan.

“We saw that they were able to give students an exciting and enjoyable workout for a discounted price, and as a college student, it can be tough to find classes that don’t break the bank,” Zinser said.

The Boxing Club is almost ready to launch and will begin holding sessions in the middle of February for students interested in an alternative cardio workout. Sessions will be held at Studio Boxing, which is located at 150 South Elizabeth St. in Rochester. The studio offers cardio boxing, interval training and personal training.

“We want to give students the lowest price possible,” Zinser said. “For a full fall semester we are looking at about $120, and students who start with us in February will pay $75 for half a semester.”

The studio typically charges customers $50 per month, so this would be a huge discount for students.

The classes that students in the club would be taking will be strictly for Oakland students and provide an opportunity to meet new people with a passion for exercise.

“I think boxing is a great way to relieve stress,” Zinser said. “If you had a long day of classes or you’re worried about your finals, it could be pretty therapeutic to take it out on a punching bag.”

Boxing has recently become an extremely popular celebrity workout. Gigi and Bella Hadid post videos of their training on Instagram and Vogue calls it “the best way to break out of a fitness rut.” It provides high intensity interval training that is not only good for calorie burning, but also teaches elements of self defense.

The club will be open to anyone who wants to get a good workout once or twice a week. Studio Boing provides a learning experience for its students and caters to a very basic level.

“We want people to know that you don’t have to have former training to join, the program is very beginner friendly,” Zinser said.

If you’re interested in a fun and intense workout class you can contact Zachary Zinser at zjzinser@oakland.edu or join the club’s Facebook page for updates on when sessions will begin.

Sadie Layher / The Oakland Post

Housing and the DSS work together to make dorms comfortable for students with disabilities.

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January 31, 2018 // The Oakland Post

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Life

Vintage hotspot of

Pontiac‘Virgie Geroux’ New store in local area stocked with historical pieces Katarina Kovac Staff Reporter

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Photo courtesy of Oakland University

A comedic play set in London’s 1700s with a plot revolving around gossip and ultimate deceit.

‘The School For Scandal’ rings true even in 2018 Shelby Tankersley Editor-in-Chief

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oing back to an age where people went through more effort to gossip and lie about those around them than we do today, “The School For Scandal” is fit for a 21st century audience to reflect on the power of technology.

Oakland University’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance’s latest production is set in London during the 1700s. Based on the play by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, “Scandal” follows the story of a cluster of characters who all gossip about one another to advance themselves. It’s fake news, it’s alternative facts and it’s deceit.

“There’s a lot of entangled plots,” said Andrew Barikmo, who plays Mrs. Candour, describing the play like a Victorian episode of “Gossip Girl.” “Every character in the show is doing something for their own gain. But to do this, they are entangling everyone else. Everyone in this play is connected in some way whether they know it or not.”

Through following all of these plots, the play functions as a comedy. But director David Gram sees great moral implications in “Scandal” as well.

“All of these characters need each other,” he said. “Without each other they would have no purpose, and I think that scares them. The way they gossip and the way they talk to each other is like us today getting our validation from social media. We post things on the internet and one of three things happens: We get a positive response, a negative response or we get no response at all. The worst thing for us is getting no response.”

Though the time period and method of communication are different, Gram

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says “Scandal” can serve as a mirror for how society acts today. To immerse the audience in this relatable story, the show is being done in the round. When theatre is done in the round, the stage is surrounded by the audience on every side.

There is nowhere for a character to hide, everything is in the open.

“We have a very intimate space.” said Lucy Price, who plays Lady Sneerwell.

“The audience is so close to the actors.

Everyone is brought naturally into the space and story.”

“Scandal” is not commonly performed in the round, so audiences will get a rather immersive experience into the lies and gossip. MTD will host multiple performances between Feb. 1 and Feb. 11. Ticket prices and more information can be found on Oakland’s website.

The cast’s favorite parts of “Scandal” Lucy Price Has enjoyed working with such a fantastic cast and crew. She says casts don’t always click, but the cast of “Scandal” gets along quite well.

Andrew Barikmo Has enjoyed the first-time experience “Scandal” has given him of performing in drag. He says it’s something he has always wanted to try an that it has been a massive learning experience.

David Gram Like Price, has loved working with such a fun and diverse cast for this production. He also enjoys that Oakland’s production of “Scandal” has stayed true to the 18th century feel of the original work.

rguably one of the best vintage shops in Metro Detroit, Virgie Geroux is stocked full with beautiful vintage pieces collected by store owner Kelly Sykes.

“It all started when I was a child,” Sykes said. “I would hang out with my mom and grandmother and we would go to garage sales, specifically because we didn’t have a lot of money. I was raised in an environment where I would find really beautiful clothes, that were often used, for a really low price.”

She took those pieces and made them look like clothing her friends were wearing that they would purchase from department stores.

“As I became older, I certainly had a love for true vintage,” Sykes said. “I had a love of having my own style that wasn’t necessarily anyone elses, and the best way that I could do that was by buying vintage.”

As she grew up, Sykes started collecting more and more vintage pieces and began to amass a large collection. Family members began to jokingly question whether she was a collector, or a hoarder.

“I thought I would be a collector and sell one day, and that day came sooner than I anticipated,” Sykes said.

Her collection has spread to the likes of Hollywood. Sykes has sold her pieces to films, TV shows, designers and other vintage stores.

Even with this industry success, the aspect she values most is getting to interact one on one with customers in her store.

“Vintage allows one to express their individual personality without looking like everyone else,” Sykes said. “There is this ability to have garments that are mostly made in the United States, and it’s ethical fashion for a fair price. It speaks to the social environment that we are in right now.”

Lacey Story, a professor of women and gender studies at OU, is a connoisseur of vintage pieces herself and believes that

vintage collections displayed in stores like Virgie Geroux are a way to preserve historical pieces in a very real and interesting way.

“When you buy a piece of vintage clothing and wear it, you are giving a nod to the history of fashion and showing others ways in which fashion is cyclical and can be continually reinvented in new ways, which for me is a lot of fun,” she said. “Wearing vintage clothes also saves the clothing from destruction and landfills, and can be a way to be kinder to the environment.”

At Virgie Geroux, customers are given styling help from Sykes directly, which makes the shopping experience personable.

“When shopping at Virgie Geroux, you support a part of a community of small businesses,” Story said. “Businesses that specialize in knowing their clientele and making the most of the experience. I love that I can go into Virgie Giroux and that she knows the type of things I like or that would work for me and helps me curate my own unique wardrobe.”

“When you buy a piece of vintage clothing and wear it, you are giving a nod to the history of fashion and showing others ways in which fashion is cyclical and can be continually reinvented in new ways, which for me is a lot of fun.”

Kelly Sykes

Owner of Vergie Geroux With women’s items dating from the 1980s all the way back to the 1920s and one of the biggest collections that one could have in Michigan of vintage, be sure to check out Virgie Geroux located on the second floor of 7 N. Saginaw St. in Pontiac.

The Oakland Post // January 31, 2018

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Back to the ’20s for the

meadow Brook Ball

Story by Jessica Leydet // Photos by Brendan Triola // Design by Megan Luttinen // Graphics by Erin O’Neill & Prakhya Chilukuri

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his year’s Meadow Brook Ball, “An Evening at Gatsby’s,” gave guests the chance to fully immerse themselves into the lavish lifestyle of the 1920s, a time when “a little party never killed nobody.”

This year’s Ball also marked the first time the president of the university has been in attendance, and Oakland University President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz said she had a great time.

“I was incredibly impressed with the organization of the Ball—everything from the extraordinary decorations, the amazing food displays, the wonderful entertainment, including the dance lessons, the face painting, the tarot card reader, the games in the game room,” she said. “I was struck by the red carpet gowns and tuxes that came straight from ‘The Great Gatsby’ era—the entire evening was elegant and exceptional, and it was an absolutely fabulous evening.”

The entire hall was decked out in gold and black art decor, and most of the guests dressed for the theme by wearing flapper-esque attire or full suits with suspenders and bow ties. The ‘20s theme was particularly appropriate because the hall was built between 1926 and 1929 by Matilda Dodge Wilson and her second husband, lumber broker Alfred G. Wilson.

Pescovitz said she enjoyed herself so much, she hopes to get an invitation again next year because she loves spending time with students of the university.

“Although Meadow Brook Hall is a tremendous asset, the greatest asset of all is our wonderful group of students,” she said.

Jean Ann Miller, director for the Center for Student Activities and Leadership Development, said if it weren’t for the students who put so much work into planning it, or in preparing to attend, it wouldn’t be nearly as great as it is. Miller said that the ball has come a very long way since her time here at OU. “It started off where they would have one ball in the fall and one in the winter, but then we decided to hold it back to back [Friday and Saturday] in the same weekend,” she said. “But since then, in the past couple of years we’ve switched to doing two Saturdays because it is more easy for students to make time to get ready in case they have a Friday class or work.”

In years past, themes ranged from, “Tropical Paradise” in 2004 to “Red Carpet Affair” in 2011, but no matter the theme, the ball has always been a bucket list event for OU students to attend before graduation.

“People take this event pretty seriously, and it is far more sophisticated,” Miller said. “There was even a marriage proposal at the ball in the past, and I remember because I was invited to the wedding!”

Life

Couples in college: married life on campus Is it always a fairytale ending or another case in divorce court?

Emily Morris Staff Intern

“But you’re turning into an old maid right before my eyes.’ ‘Oh my God!’ I shrieked. ‘I can’t believe ypu just said that. I am not an old maid.’ ‘Now, see there. I didn’t say you were. I said you were on your way to becoming one.

Face it. You’ll be seventeen in what...?’

‘Six months,’ I say. ‘And?’” —Amir Abrams, “Chasing Butterlfies’”

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any are familiar with the countless classic stories that wholeheartedly encourage marrying at the brim of adult or the quintessential college age.

Although many stories now romanticize this fairytale setup, countless college students across the country still face this challenge. Some college students are ready to take the leap into marriage while simultaneously leaping into college. According to a 2013 study from the Pew Research Center, 59 percent of unmarried Americans between

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January 31, 2018 // The Oakland Post

the ages of 18 and 24 deem themselves unprepared for marriage, either because of youth or financial stability.

However, the remaining 41 percent simply devote their marital status to “not finding what their looking for.”

“We’ve always been on the same page and knew that as soon as we can [get married], we will, because we love each other, and there’s no point in putting a hold on making it all official.”

Kate Vibert Soon-to-be married freshman at OU Regardless, some Oakland University students actually have combined

the chiming of our famed Elliot Tower’s bells with classic church bells. But the elephant in the room, of course, is why get married now? In fact, it’s quite apparent—love. Love was the number one reason to be married, ahead of commitment and companionship, in Pew’s 2013 survey.

“We’ve always been on the same page and knew that as soon as we can [get married], we will, because we love each other, and there’s no point in putting a hold on making it all official,” said Kate Vibert, a soon-to-be married freshman at OU. Despite love taking such a role in the whim of young marriage, some students have reported a similar feat to maintaining a juggling act between classes, careers and marriage. Moreover, the average college student already is only allotted around four hours each day for leisure time, according to a study conducted by the American Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2015. College is known to be a melting pot of education and forming crucial connec-

tion, but this process is entirely reinvented for married or engaged college students because, naturally, they’ve already formed their most intimate connection. Hence, being a married college student can present a need to reevaluate time and necessities.

“It was my choice to go to college… but I had to try extra hard to not make it an inconvenience on my family,” said OU alumna Dayna Harper of her college experience as a married student.

Modern views of ensured stability are reshuffling the timeless tale of falling in love and immediately getting married. In fact, over 90 percent of young adults believe that education should precede marriage, according to The Knot Yet Report, but some are still inclined to embark on a traditional route of building your life with a partner first.

Clearly, love cannot always be connected to a correct time, so love can be continually being redefined by each love story that happens before, within and after Oakland University.

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Life

Lakaysha Mitchell: Brewing the best Keeping the dream alive

Sam Boggs / The Oakland Post

Center of Multicultural Initiaves peer mentor is honored with the Keeper of the Dream award.

Patrick Sullivan Contributor

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ince 1993, the Keeper of the Dream award has been presented to students at Oakland University who maintain the spirit and tenacity of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. One of the students who was honored with this award, Lakaysha Mitchell, represents that spirit.

Mitchell, a junior social work major here at Oakland, is involved in multiple organizations on campus that maintain and help fight for the equality and diversity Dr. King fought for. From being a peer mentor at the Center for Multicultural Initiatives to being president of the American Association of University Women, Mitchell works hard everyday to promote the values that represent the Keeper of the Dream award.

“There’s a certain genuine spirit to winners of Keeper of the Dream, they work for equality for the better of their community,” said Richard Williamson, another peer mentor at CMI. “Lakaysha can give a lot of empathy, and can meet people where they are at and help others realize their potential.”

But even in recognition, Mitchell stays humble.

“I still look at the plaque and I’m waiting for someone to call me and tell me that this is a joke,” Mitchell said regarding her winning the scholarship. In the weeks following her learning she won, Mitchell said that she was awestruck and filled with disbelief.

“Finding out that I won was a mess of emotions”.

The road to becoming a Keeper of the

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Dream scholar involves submitting a resume, three recommendations, and a 500 word essay. After submitting those, applicants are then interviewed by a panel of representatives from multiple organizations on campus, including CMI, the Gender and Sexuality Center and University Housing.

“Lakaysha is never afraid to speak her mind or speak up for people,” said Brendan Scorpio, Mitchell’s resident assistant last year. ”She has no issue standing devoting time and energy to people that needed her help. Everything that she embodies is perfect for this award.”

Along with working at CMI, Mitchell is also doing important work as the president of the AAUW on campus which helps promote equality for women on campus by putting on programs and events for students.

“I’m proud of Oakland,” Mitchell said regarding how the university accepts diversity. “We’re not only given the platform and voice, but we are given people to help and people to listen.”

Mitchell is a strong advocate for equality and social justice, not just on OU’s campus but in the Rochester area and beyond.

“Finding out that I won was a mess of emotions...I’m proud of Oakland. We’re not only given the platform and voice, but we are given people to help and people to listen.”

Lakaysha Mitchell

Do it yourself, making beer from home Sergio Montanez Contributor

For the sake of keeping things relatively simple, I decided to brew an extract recipe: English Brown Ale. Extract recipes are slightly different from all-grain recipes, making them simpler. Here’s how you do it:

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ather 2.5 gallons of clean water and pour it in a 5 gallon stainless pot and begin to heat. While the water heats, pour all three different types of specialty grains into the grain bag and tie a knot at the top.

Once the water heats to 160°F, steep your grains in the water for 20 minutes. Be sure to tie the grain bag to the handle of the pot, leaving the grin bag floating for easy removal. After the 20 minutes are up, remove the grain bag from the water. Do not squeeze the bag, just let it drain over the water. This is now called the “wort.” Bring the wort to a boil.

Once the wort is boiling, remove the brewing pot from the stovetop to add both LME (liquid malt extract) and DME (dry malt extract). Be sure to add the DME first. Stir the malt extract continuously until it has dissolved. Any undissolved extract will burn. Move brewing pot back on stovetop, and return the wort to a boil.

Once the wort starts boiling, add two packs of 0.5 oz. hops to the wort.

These hops will add bitterness to your finished beer.

Boil the wort with hops for another 60 minutes. Be sure to adjust stovetop to a comfortable temperature (210° F) where it won’t boil-over.

After 35 minutes, add the last pack of 0.5 oz. hops to the wort. These are

your aromatic, or finishing, hops.

These will add more of an aroma to your beer.

Boil for final 25 minutes, then terminate boil. Cool the mixture down as quickly as possible. If you don’t have wort chiller, there are other ways to cool it. What I typically do is get a storage container, fill it with cold water and ice and dip the wort in it, gradually adding ice to the water until it drops below 100°F. Once the wort drops below 100°F, it is ready to be transferred to the fermenting bucket.

Pour the wort into the sanitized 6.5 gallon bucket, or your fermenter.

Avoid transferring any sediment at the bottom of the pot. Add enough clean water to the fermenter to bring your wort to five gallons. Seal your fermenter and aerate it by rocking it back and forth. Do this for about five minutes.

After aerating your wort for five minutes, remove the lid to for pitching the yeast. Before pitching in the yeast, be sure to take the wort’s temperature. It should be cooled down to about 75°F. With sanitized scissors, cut open a sachet of dry yeast. Pitch the yeast over top of the entire wort surface.

Firmly seal the lid onto the fermenter. Fill the airlock halfway with water and gently twist it onto the lid.

Move the fermenter to dark place, such as a closet, where the temperature is stable between 64°-75°F. Wrap a blanket around the fermenter and leave it there for the next two weeks. Within 24 hours, you will notice CO2 bubbling out of the airlock.

Keep an eye on your fermenting wort and be patient. The beer is worth it, trust me.

Keeper of the Dream award winner “My hope is that the work we are doing now will spark change and inspire the next generation to be more kind, loving, and accepting,” she said during a speech during the Keeper of the Dream award ceremony.

If more people mirrored the compassion and drive that Mitchell shows for her community, this grand change would come about a lot sooner than the next generation.

The Oakland Post // January 31, 2018

13

Puzzles Across

1. Stable morsels 5. Mellowed 9. Mistreat 14. Morose 15. ____ vault 16. Hermit 17. Draw the ____ 18. Certain fortuneteller (2 wds.)

20. Malevolent 21. Dined 22. Movie stars 23. Announce 25. Bro’s sib 26. Intensify 28. Spoiled child 32. Trying experience 36. Light beam 37. Similar to 38. Royal domain 39. Tennis term 40. Glossy fabric 41. No ifs, ____, or buts 42. Drink cooler 43. Close by (2 wds.)

44. Misplace 45. Actress ____ Bullock NOVICE

47. Water barrier 48. Irregular 53. Canadian capital 57. Train terminal (abbr.)

58. Rural road 59. Excellence 61. Appeal 62. Test 63. Strike heavily 64. Bunny’s jumps 65. Scornful sound 66. Skin opening 67. Poker word

Down

1. Eyed flirtatiously 2. Animated 3. Roman gown 4. Odor 5. Attire 6. Pointed beard 7. ____ Macpherson 8. JFK’s party 9. Baldwin and Guinness 10. Ship 11. Unfasten 12. Soothsayer 13. Slips up

19. Drizzly 24. Eve’s partner 25. Chair 27. Groom 28. Uninteresting 29. Pinup ____ Hayworth 30. Similar 31. Take care of 32. Uttered 33. Casino city 34. June honorees 35. Differently 39. Con game 40. Night twinkler 42. Author ____ Asimov 43. Organize 46. Roundabout route 47. Lived 49. Greek vowel 50. Falcon’s claw 51. Clumsy 52. Desist 53. Chooses 54. Gull’s kin 55. Three musicians 56. Not nearby 57. Barn’s neighbor 60. 1/3 TBSP

TOUGH

INTERMEDIATE

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January 31, 2018 // The Oakland Post

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Perspectives

The views expressed in Perspectives do not necessarily represent those of The Oakland Post.

Reaction to the so-called

“Fake News Awards” Trump posts his list of dishonest media outlets

John Bozick Web Editor

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arlier this month, President Donald Trump announced his intention to recognize what he called “The Fake News Awards,” essentially an award ceremony going to media outlets Trump believes are dishonest, corrupt and fake. Yet, after postponing his award show another week, the president’s presentation of the much anticipated award ceremony turned out to be nothing more than a malfunctioning post on the GOP Website.

The link tweeted by Trump originally gave readers an error message and refused to load, but the site was later reachable, looking more like a press release than an award ceremony.

The very first “dishonest” story on the list was not even an actual story. Instead, it was a claim by New York Times reporter Paul Krugman in which he said the market would never recover following Trump’s victory in 2016. While the stock market is on the rise, calling a reporter’s assumption about the market following the win by a volatile candidate is not really “fake news.”

Other stories featured were a report about the Polish Prime Minister not shaking the president’s hand while on a visit to Poland and a rewww.oaklandpostonline.com

port about WikiLeaks papers being seen by Donald Trump Jr. and his father.

The very last award in the post attacked Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation saying, “And last, but not least: ‘RUSSIA COLLUSION!’ Russian collusion is perhaps the greatest hoax perpetrated on the American people. THERE IS NO COLLUSION!” The response to the awards drew criticism from Democrats, Republicans and journalists alike, many of whom found the move unprofessional and in poor taste.

Republican and Former Press Secretary, Alex Conant responded to the GOP post by tweeting, “10 years ago I was press secretary for @GOP. Lots of good people working there today. I’m working hard to help them elect Republicans in 2018. But these tactics by @realDonaldTrump are not helpful to anybody except Chuck & Nancy.”

Seattle Times reporter Chris Rosenberg responded to the awards stating, “Worth nothing that most of the 11 recipients of the Fake News Awards issued corrections or faced consequences for inaccurate reporting. That’s how journalism works.”

The American Civil Liberties Union, well known for its legal cases defending the free press, called the awards “the latest in a long list of attacks against our First Amendment’s freedom of the press” and provided a link to every single attack by the president that they reported.

It’s worth noting too that journalism is not always perfect. Journalists are human, mistakes are made and corrections are run. Just because an individual receives negative coverage by the press does not mean that the news being reported is fake news, often times it is the truth that many need to come to terms with.

Instead of blatantly yelling that everything is “fake news”, perhaps Trump could dispute these stories by providing facts that he believes could prove them to be false, but then again he would first need to stop watching Sean Hannity in order to do that.

The Oakland Post // January 31, 2018

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Perspectives

The views expressed in Perspectives do not necessarily represent those of The Oakland Post.

Is ‘The Shape of Water’ worth the Oscar hype?

Trevor Tyle Campus Editor

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t’s a good year to be Guillermo del Toro. The widely celebrated filmmaker has received critical acclaim, a Golden Globe for Best Director and 13 Oscar nominations all in one month, and all for one film—“The Shape of Water.”

I wish I could say there was a reason why I didn’t review “The Shape of Water” when it was released last month. I wish I could say I gave it the attention it deserved before the mainstream success it experienced amidst its award show hype.

But the truth of the matter is that I simply could not bring myself to watch the film, knowing that, if I liked it, I would hate myself even more for passing on the opportunity to interview Del Toro earlier this year.

And I was right.

“The Shape of Water” is strangely beautiful, incredibly powerful and, above all, simply captivating.

Set during the Cold War in the 1960s, the film tells the story

of Elisa (Sally Hawkins), a mute woman who lives a life of solitude, sans the companionship of her neighbor Giles (Richard Jenkins) and coworker Zelda (Octavia Spencer). Elisa and Zelda work as janitors in a secret government laboratory, where they uncover a sea creature of sorts (Doug Jones) that the government wants for experimental purposes.

Elisa communicates with the “Amphibian Man” through sign language, her sole means of conversing with others, and they quickly form a bond. Upon discovering the government’s plans for the creature, Elisa devises a plan to free him with the help of her friends and a Russian spy (Michael Stuhlbarg) posing as a doctor within the facility. Her struggle to protect him from being recaptured by the evil Colonel Strickland (Michael Shannon) only becomes more difficult when she develops romantic feelings for the creature.

In some ways, “The Shape of Water” feels like “Beauty and the Beast” meets “E.T.” But to limit its capacity to the sto-

rylines of other successful films would be criminal. “The Shape of Water” is innovative and breathtaking, adding new layers of depth to a vaguely familiar story formula.

Hawkins’ performance in particular is marvelous. The empathy audiences will feel toward her character leaves a truly special emotional resonance at the film’s conclusion, making her Best Actress nomination at this year’s Oscars all the more satisfying. Jenkins and Spencer are equally brilliant as her courageous cohorts, making their respective Best Supporting Actor and Actress nods just as exciting.

The remarkable talents of the cast are matched only by del Toro’s impeccable storytelling skills. He rather distinctively makes the film true to himself as a director and writer, while still creating a powerful story that will move audiences in a way that so few films can nowadays.

From a cinematographic perspective, the film is visually stunning in every possible way. It frequently uses various

Photo Courtesy of IMDB

The film features a woman who is mute and communicates through ASL.

shades of green to emphasize the film’s symbolic undertones—and rather brilliantly, I might add. Meanwhile, Alexandre Desplat’s gorgeous score further elevates the film to Best Picture worthiness.

“The Shape of Water” far exceeds some of its Oscar competitors. From the compelling storyline, packed with an emotional punch that will evoke tears of both joy and sorrow, to the spellbinding acting and direction, this film is a poetic

masterpiece more than worthy of every Oscar nomination it received.

It still feels difficult to articulate just how glorious this film is. No review will ever do it the justice of witnessing it with your own eyes.

“Water” is shaping up to be what is truly one of the most beautiful films in which I’ve ever had the pleasure of being immersed.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Fall Out Boy breaks out of pop punk norm with “M A N I A” Mary Siring Staff Reporter

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he classic pop punk band, Fall Out Boy, has taken an entirely new style with their 2018 album release, “M A N I A.” Fall Out Boy returned from a three year hiatus a few years ago, releasing “Save Rock and Roll” in 2013 and “American Beauty/American Psycho” in 2015. Both, overall, carried the authenticity of Fall Out Boy’s previous album. Guitar and rock production with the classic Patrick Stump vocals.

“M A N I A” breaks the mold and introduces Fall Out Boy fans, both old and new, to a new style that highlights the early 2000s group’s growth.

The authenticity of Fall Out Boy’s newest release is truly astonishing. The production and vocals certainly are products of Fall Out Boy, but these elements are merely underlying -- a way to bring the listener back to the

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core of the pop punk group.

The combination of jazz, swing and even hard electronic beats is what becomes the forefront of each track. It’s a style that was barely grazed upon in tracks such as “Favorite Record” and “Jet Pack Blues” in “American Beauty/American Psycho.”

This same experimentation can be seen with many recent albums of early 2000s bands.

Linkin Park did so in 2010 with “A Thousand Suns,” branching out from their metal roots and easing into something calmer and alternative.

Fall Out Boy takes on a new style, bringing New Orleans jazz, 2002 dubstep and an ounce of 1960s swing. With all of these elements, the classic Fall Out Boy vibe is still prevalent.

It’s a combination of styles that admittedly sound as though they would be atrocious. Each element is tastefully placed resulting in a set of tracks that are revolutionary and entertain-

January 31, 2018 // The Oakland Post

ing. More specifically in tracks such as “Young and Menace” and “Sunshine Riptide” (featuring Burna Boy), there is a tasteful and well-applied mixture of jazzy, swing tunes with deep bass and electronic elements.

For those who aren’t a fan of such drawn sections of dubstepesque production, it’s possible to create an unlikeable product.

That is always the issue with such a niche genre, but overall “M A N I A” takes that into account and creates a set of tracks with balance.

The same can be said for the slower track in “M A N I A,” “Heaven’s Gate.” There is a very distinct and authentic swing and jazz vibe, but in a slower and calmer way. This is truly something that Fall Out Boy experimented with, as very few tracks that they have ever released have been at this tempo.

Truly, Stump’s vocals has been so traditionally used with

Photo Courtesy of Billboard

“M A N I A” is the seventh album from Fall Out Boy that has a new style.

hard rock tunes, that hearing his iconic voice with such a new style is like a breath of fresh air.

It’s a risk that the band took and it paid off.

Especially in comparison to their previous hits such as “Thnks fr th Mmrs” and even, “My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark,” “M A N I A” breathes new

life into a classic band.

Admittedly, it is easy for long time fans to not like where the band has taken their style, but for fans of alternative, not specifically Fall Out Boy’s previous genre of music, it is a true success.

Rating: 4/5 stars www.oaklandpostonline.com

Sports

Student org spotlight:

Basketball at BDubs Ballroom and Latin Dance Club Katie LaDuke Staff Reporter

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Brendan Triola / The Oakland Post

The Grizz Gang put on a watch party at the Buffolo Wild Wings in Rochester, since many could not travel to Kentucky.

Dakota Brecht Staff Reporter

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xactly three weeks to the day, the Golden Grizzlies got shocked at home by the Northern Kentucky Norse 87-83.

This propelled the Norse to first place in the Horizon League standings and Oakland fell to third with a loss to Wright State two days later. Now with the Black and Gold on a four game win streak and storming into the bluegrass state fans can guarantee it’s going to be one heck of a fight.

With Kentucky being a little bit of drive for most, Buffalo Wild Wings in Rochester hosted a watch party for all those rowdy Golden Grizzly fans. Grizz Gang president Jake Wolok was present at the event and all fired up.

“It’s going to be a tough road environment and they got us at our house so we’re just going to come out with more energy and passion to get some payback, Kampe knows for us to win the Horizon League we need this win,” Wolok said. www.oaklandpostonline.com

Oakland started the game the only way the team knows how, with four straight three’s and Kendrick Nunn was in rare form once again. In a mere 10 minutes, Nunn already had 14 points and Brailen Neely was following him up with a solid game of his own.

The score was 21-16 in favor of the Golden Grizzlies with 10 minutes to go in the half.

As the first half wrapped up, Oakland continued the strong start and were leading 36-32 at the end of the half. Nunn had 14 points and Neely was right behind with seven.

Isaiah Brock continued to do what he does best and had five rebounds. Buffalo Wild Wings was rocking as the fans anxiously awaited the second half.

“We’re very excited to be here, I’m just really proud of our team and just very thankful to the fans who came out,” Grizz Gang secretary John Hassenzahl said.

Student manager Brendan Billbury couldn’t make the trip down to Northern Ken-

tucky but was at the watch party.

“I think Brailen is playing pretty good, he’s always got that touch around the rim,” Billbury said. “I think Oakland’s going to edge them out in the second half but it’s gonna be close.”

The longest active Grizz Gang member Austin Davis was getting into it and could not of been more excited after his team’s win.

“It’s awesome and we just gotta keep it up and get these next few wins,” Davis said. “Last year we ended on a nine game winning streak but this year we’re not losing once more.”

Interim Athletic Director Padraic Mcmeel was in attendance at Buffalo Wild Wings and he was extremely happy with the fans support.

“It’s really cool to see the Grizz Gang out here, I think it just shows what the students want in this program and I can’t thank them enough for coming out,” Mcmeel said.

his winter semester marks five years since the start of Oakland University’s Ballroom and Latin Dance Club. However, before last summer, the club was known as just the Ballroom Dance Club. The reason for the rebranding came because the club does Latin dances as well as Ballroom dances and wanted to display that.

“We wanted to include more of the social aspect since we’re not just competitive ballroom,” club President Megan Carson said.

Unlike most club sports at Oakland where students have experience with the sport, majority of the Ballroom and Latin Dance Club members have never danced. There are some members who have danced their whole life.

“I came in with zero experience, and by the end of [my first] year I was winning ribbons and competing,” Vice President Annie Fuelle said.

“I think sometimes the hardest part is getting the rhythm down with the music.”

The Ballroom and Latin Dance Club is Oakland biggest club sport with 60 members. This is the most the club has ever had since the average amount of members is around 40.

Since the club is so big, only around 16 to 20 members travel to competitions.

The club emphasizes that anyone is welcome to join regardless of skill level. Since there are no official tryouts, interested members can just show up to practice and work their way up to feeling comfortable enough to compete.

“We will always accept new people,” Carson said.

Practices take place four times a week. Sundays are for open practice, Mondays are dedicated to beginners, Wednesdays are advanced lessons with the club’s instructor and Thursdays have a mix or advanced lessons and open practice.

Competitions typically take place two to three times a semester. By the end of the school year, the club will have traveled to Michigan State University, Purdue University, the University of Michigan and Ohio State University. These competitions are divided into four sections: rhythm, smooth, Latin and international. The

club primarily competes in rhythm and smooth with a variety of dances including the waltz, tango, foxtrot, viennese waltz, cha-cha, rumba, swing, mambo, quickstep, samba and jive.

For these competitions, members do not learn full routines. Since there can be around 30 couples on the floor at the same time, pairs mostly improvise and stick to patterns of certain moves.

“At every competition, we make memories that are great,” Carson said.

The social aspect of Latin dances comes in with the bachata, salsa and merengue dances. Members have danced at several salsa nights in Detroit including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s and Vicente’s.

“We wanted to include more of the social aspect since we’re not just competitive ballroom.”

Megan Carson President Ballroom and Latin Dance Club

The club also participates in events around campus and puts on their own events. Last year, the club learned a choreographed routine and took part in Vitality Dance’s annual showcase.

At the Jan. 27 Meadow Brook Ball, members were giving free ballroom dance lessons to guests.

On Monday, Feb. 12, the club will be hosting their annual Ballroom with Bae for Oakland students. This event doubles as a fundraiser with it being $10 per couple and $7 for one person. “[Ballroom with Bae] is a really cool fundraiser that we get to teach other people who don’t usually get to ballroom dance,” sophomore member Jean-Pierre Ortiz said.

The club does accept new members anytime during the year and also holds an open house during the first weeks of school for any interested students. for more information on the Ballroom and Latin Dance Club, check out GrizzOrgs and the club’s Facebook page.

“Anybody can join Ballroom Dance Club, and anybody can dance,” Carson said. “If you can walk in a straight line, you can dance.”

The Oakland Post // January 31, 2018

17

Midseason check-up: The Sporting Blitz indoor track and field

Men’s and women’s teams prepare for outdoor season, hope to make an impact on Horizon League standings Dakota Brecht Staff Reporter

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nside the sporting dome on Oakland University’s campus, the men and women’s track and field teams are getting ready for the weather to warm up so they can lace up those spikes and get back on the track. Both teams had a couple indoor meets in December and January to help get the rust out and prepare for the spring.

There are many standouts on both teams, but two names really shine, one male and one female. Andrew Bowman from the men’s team is a fifth year senior and has really made an impact on not only the track team but the cross country team as well. On the other side, sophomore Chanel Gardner is an absolute machine.

“We thought, ‘Hey, we can provide this service to our community—‘cause it’s open to everybody—and our students for a fraction of the price if we partner with one of these companies.’”

Tanisha Johnson Head Coach of women’s T&F Bowman has been an important factor for the Golden Grizzlies since his freshman season and continues to make an impact on the Horizon League.

“A couple years ago when I ran [steeplechase] I was one away from going to nationals,” Bowman said. “It was awesome but it’s still not easy to get back to it and the fact that you were one away last time doesn’t mean you’re going to get it this time. It requires 100 percent focus and attention to get there.”

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January 31, 2018 // The Oakland Post

Bowman sees the indoor season as good preparation for warmer meets out in the elements.

“This indoor season is basically just laying a good foundation for a successful outdoor season, it’s smarter to just stay healthy and work towards that outdoor season,” he said.

Head Coach Paul Rice is proud of Bowman as he enters his final season.

“This is a bittersweet year,” Rice said.

“It’s his last go around and he had a great fall season in cross country. We’re looking for some real great excitement in the spring.”

In Gardner’s last three 200 meter sprints, she has won them all. Gardner is running the best she ever has and looks to keep it up through the outdoor season.

“It’s actually really hard because there’s a lot of good people on this team,” Gardner said. “I like training for it and I love how my coaches really push me in practice.”

Head Coach of the women’s team Tanisha Johnson has high expectations for Gardner and is impressed of her performance.

“I expect Chanel to keep on doing the things she’s doing now, she had a really great high school career, she had a really good year for us last year and I think with the training she has had, she looks stronger this year than ever before,” Johnson said. “I think she has more confidence than ever before and you’re just going to see it every day on the track.”

In the spring, Oakland will be hosting the Horizon League Championship and it is a huge deal for the athletes, coaches and fans.

“It’s pretty cool for an athlete to have the opportunity to compete at home for a championship,” Rice said. “It’s a special thing to do well at your home facility.”

“It means everything to host the championship here,” Johnson added. To be in front of your family and all of your friends, with the home crowd around you and the energy is going to be exciting.”

Coming off of a men’s and women’s first place in cross country and with an exciting outdoor track and field season looming, indoor track and field continues to be the perfect place to get those final tune ups in before the summer sun comes back out.

Track and Field:

Oakland visited Saginaw Valley State University on Jan. 27 and 28 for the two-day Jet’s Pizza Invite.

On day one for the women, Mary Moore tossed 51 ft., 9 in. to break her own weight throw record. Angela Ciaravino came in second in the Pentathlon with 3,183 points. Kendell Jefferson qualified first in the 60m (7.67) while Madaline Hall placed fourth in the long jump at 17 ft., 6.75 in.

For the men, Zach Stadnika finished first in the 60m and second in the long jump, shot put and high jump to begin the heptathlon. Napoleon Outlaw qualified second for the 200m (21.91).

On day two, the Golden Grizzlies broke four school records. With 5,182 points, Stadnika broke his own heptathlon school record. Placing third, Jimmie Williams finished the 400m with a mark of 48.31. Jefferson broke the 60m (7.58) and the 200m (24.94) school record to place first and second respectively. In the 400m, Chanel Gardner finished third with a mark of 56.63.

On Feb. 2 and 3, the Black and Gold will travel to the Notre Dame Meyo Invite.

MBB @ Northern Kentucky: On Friday, Jan. 26, Oakland men’s basketball traveled to Highlands Heights, Ky. to take on Northern Kentucky. The Golden Grizzlies came out on top 83-70.

With 33 points, Kendrick Nunn had his third-straight 30-point performance and ninth of the season. Jalen Hayes added 21 points and seven rebounds while Martez Walker put up 11 points and two steals. Brailen Neely had seven assists with seven points, and Isaiah Brock led players with 10 rebounds.

This was Oakland’s fifth consecutive win.

Swimming and Dive:

Oakland swimming and diving teams hosted Cleveland State on Saturday, Jan. 27. The men’s and women’s teams came out on top 194-106 and 179.5-120.5, respectively.

Joe Smith came in first in the 3-meter dive with a school record 388.12.

Smith also came in first in the 1-meter dive (368.4). Paul Huch had four first place finishes in the 100 freestyle (45.42), 50 freestyle (20.65), was a member of the winning 200 medley relay team (1:30.87) and was a member of the winning 400 freestyle team (3:03.35). Will Gayne finished first in

the 100 backstroke (49.43) and in the 200 backstroke (1:49.470.

For the women, Holly placed first in the 50 freestyle (23.31), 200 medley relay (1:43.32) and the 400 freestyle relay (3:30.13). Bernie Turchi came in first in the 1-meter dive with a score of 265.80 and 244.20 in the 3-meter dive.

Oakland will compete at the Horizon League Championship Feb. 21-24 in Cleveland, Ohio.

WBB vs. UDM: Oakland women’s basketball took on UDM at the O’rena on Saturday, Jan. 27. The Golden Grizzlies came out with an 83-50 victory.

Leah Somerfield had career-highs with 25 points and 18 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season. Somerfield also had 10 field goals, three blocks and three steals.

Sha’Keya Graves recorded 20 points with four three pointers. Cierra Bond added 15 points while Taylor Gleason had a season-high nine assists with 11 points and three steals. Korrin Taylor also had a season-high four steals and four assists.

Youngstown State will come to the O’rena on Thursday, Feb. 1.

MBB @ Wright State: For the second road game of the weekend, men’s basketball visited Fairborn, Ohio to face Wright State on Sunday, Jan. 28. Oakland lost 64-51.

Nunn led the offense with 18 points. Hayes added 13 points, eight rebounds, one block and one steal.

Walker also added 11 points with six rebounds.

The Black and Gold come back to the Blacktop on Friday, Feb. 2 against University Illinois of Chicago for the annual Winterfest game.

Compiled by Katie LaDuke Staff Reporter

www.oaklandpostonline.com

Sports

Kendrick Nunn: possible NBA pick Michael Pearce Staff Intern

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endrick Nunn defeated a rival and set a career high in scoring with 38 points against the University of Detroit Mercy on Saturday, Jan 20. He was awarded Horizon League player of the week honors two days later, his third time this season receiving that recognition.

In two games against University of Illinois at Chicago and Detroit Mercy, Nunn averaged 35 points, seven and a half rebounds and two and a half assists. The 38 points against Detroit Mercy was the third highest a single player has scored in a game against the Titans.

“Since he was cleared to play with an ankle injury before the MSU game he has been phenomenal,” men’s basketball Head Coach Greg Kampe said. “He’s shooting well, rebounding, passing. He has been playing a complete game.”

Nunn is the first player to record three player of the week honors in

a season since Khalil “Kay” Felder did it six times in the 2015-16 season. Felder won Horizon League player of the year as well.

After the Detroit Mercy game, Nunn averages 26.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and four assists per game.

In his player of the year season, Felder averaged 24.4 points, 9.3 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game. While Felder had a more well-rounded stat line almost averaging a double-double, Nunn is leading the Horizon League in points, three pointers and three point percentage among other categories.

“Lots of scorers are high volume shooters,” Kampe said. “But he does it without as many shots.

He is efficient.”

A February filled with more weeks like the week of Jan. 15-21 could lead to a tie, or even surpassing Felder’s six player of the week honors, and result in a Horizon League player of the year honor for Nunn.

“Player of the year depends on us,” Kampe said. “We need to be a top one, two or three team in our

league for that. If we keep winning games he could definitely win it, Jalen [Hayes] could win it too.”

After winning Horizon League player of the year, Felder was drafted in the 2016 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks in the second round with the 56th pick. Nunn stands six inches taller and was ranked No. 47 in ESPN’s Class of 2013 Super 60. Scouts have been high on his potential since his senior year in high school.

Kampe, who coached Felder and Keith Benson who was also drafted in the second round in 2011, has believed in Nunn since the preseason.

The Detroit Free Press reported in Oct. 2017 that “Kampe called Nunn a potential ‘lottery pick’ in next year’s NBA draft.” He still believes Nunn has pro potential.

“Absolutely he could be an NBA player,” Kampe said. “He is still gaining a lot of interest. It obviously depends on the rest of the season and how he plays in those games, but we have pro scouts at every game.”

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Photos by Elyse Gregory / The Oakland Post

Kendrick Nunn averages 26.4 points per game and is the leading scorer in the nation.

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#OCPRJOBS The Oakland Post // January 31, 2018

19

Satire

The views expressed in Satire do not necessarily represent those of The Oakland Post.

Student rethinks college after being humiliated during class Patrick Sullivan Contributor

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Prakhya Chilukuri / The Oakland Post

Why student loans would be sociopathic jerks Stephen Armica Satirist

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f your student loans could talk, what would they say? Would they be friendly and supportive?

I think we all know the answer to both of those questions is no. Even if they were able to, student loans have a personality disorder that prevents them from ever saying anything that doesn’t involve well-worded therapy fuel.

So here’s some things your student loans would have said over the years before it grew into the $60,000 monster that it is today. Reader discretion is advised. And any similarities between Pennywise trying to devour a child and this article are, unfortunately, coincidental. $5,000 “Don’t worry… This is it. I’m in, I’m out.

I’m gone in a year or two. You won’t need more than this. That bad time in your parent’s small business? Don’t worry about it.

You’re stimulating the economy. And more importantly, you’re getting the education you always needed. By the way, you want a balloon kid? Oh yeah, you’re already 19 years old.” $10,000 “I’m back bitches! I mean, hello, thank you for your continued business with my benevolent creators. If you could just sign on that dotted line, just like you did before, and… I’m back you little shit!” $20,000 “What? Not gonna say welcome when I walk into your dorm? Jeez, not so friendly,

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January 31, 2018 // The Oakland Post

are you? Maybe I’ll remind you of the interest rates before you start getting all uppity about this. And by the way, you remember how I promised I’d be paid off in two years?

Well guess what. I can’t promise anything now except that I won’t be paid off in less than 10.” $35,000 “You know, I’m almost starting to feel bad for you. Wait, what am I saying, I’m nowhere close to feeling bad for you. Social mobility doesn’t exist. All those bankers that move to New York City and get rich on Wall Street, their parents paid for their college. You’re just going to work for your parent’s business until you pay off your student loans at 40.” $45,000 “Hey, where the frick is the beer? Awe, you only have one in the fridge, sucks for whoever bought this then. Anyway, the bank let me out of my cell on a conjugal visit, and I thought I’d have it with you, if you know what I mean…. I’m just screwing with you. They let me out of my cell so I could kill you…” $60,000 “Pray to me, for I am your god now.

Sacrifice your greatest ambitions and passions, so I may be merciful to you. Any career risks that you may take shall never be worth the risk of running delinquent on my payments. Any family additions that could improve your happiness shall never be replaced by me. I shall kill the first born…

Okay, maybe not all of that. But you get the point right? You’re mine now.”

Writer’s note: I just got really sad all of the sudden after I finished writing this article.

o person on Earth can escape the grasp of humiliation once it takes its hold, and it is a grip that Ernest Hamilton has become all too familiar with over the past few days.

It was a cold day at Oakland University, a day like any other for Hamilton as he headed to his 9:20 a.m. Shakespeare class.

“You wake up in the morning and you think everything is going to be fine, that it’s just going to be a normal day,” Hamilton said, the recollection bringing tears to his eyes. “You don’t know what day your life is going to end.”

That day, Hamilton’s class was discussing “Macbeth”. Students were in a heated debate about whether Lady Macbeth or Macbeth was the true villain of the story when Hamilton brought up that Lady Macbeth didn’t seem to be at fault at all.

“As soon as I said it, I realized my

mistake,” he recalled.

Student after student, comment after comment were leveled at Hamilton’s exclamation, as he got to watch his life crumble before him. He thought of a point that could help defend his argument and tried to speak, but another student, Timothy Brentwood, refuted his idea before Hamilton could get a word out.

“You mean that weirdo from the Shakespeare class?” Brentwood said, following a question about Hamilton and the day in question. “He still goes here? I thought he would’ve dropped out at this point.”

Now, Hamilton is working so this mistake will not haunt any other students by forming a support group for students that endure embarrassment in class.

“No longer will simple mistakes like this or tripping in front of the class make students regret their choice to come to college,” Hamilton said. “My dream is that one day we can rid this nation of this social embarrassment.”

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Here’s how it works. Teams of three students and a mentor will assist a local startup for 20 hours total over a six week period.

The team will focus on an important area the company needs to address. Undergraduate students will receive $200 from OU and graduate students will receive $300. This opportunity is open to all students.

Interested? Send your resume and cover letter to i2b@oakland.edu Have Questions?

Contact: Dr. Michael Long, Research Office mwlong@oakland.edu or Dr. Jae Kang, School of Business Administration kang@oakland.edu www.oaklandpostonline.com